You can get to Lanner gorge if you do the Nyalaland Wilderness trail which I do every second year. It depends on your guide though...some go the extra mile and some don't (excuse the pun) But when they find out that I'm a bird nut and that the Peregrine Falcon is my favorite bird then that's where we go, to the only site in Kruger where the Peregrine has a nest and is found apart from an old record at Olifants Gorge. I think the name Lanner is a mistake and it should be the Peregrine Gorge as I have NEVER seen a Lanner there and I think it comes from the days when the old pioneers called Leopards "Tiere" (Tigers) and Martial Eagles "Lammervangers" (Sheep catchers) ...when there is no record of this ever happening. And Aard Wolf an insect eater got persecuted out of existence almost with its unfortunate name of a Wolf!!. I think that old chap saw a Peregrine catch the dove and as usual got it all wrong and said "there goes a Lanner" and the name stuck ever since

You are right it is a no entry road to Lanner Gorge from the End of Nyalaland Drive but through my interest displayed in the flood damage and its effects on birding I have been offered to go there with the authorities next trip to Pafuri. The flood damage by the picnic spot and Crooks Corner have improved fantastically but near Lanner Gorge I was told by the Ranger that there is a lot of Silt Damage which could take hundreds of years to rectify naturally.

The Damage to the fine undergrowth was substantial at the eco sensitive Pafuri. It is improving but it wont return to its former glory not in our lifetimes as told to me by former Section rangers at Pafuri who were either born there, grew up there or who worked there so know the area like the back of their hands. I know Pafuri very well and its not like it used to be and have just been back 2 weeks ago again. The current Ranger told me last week at Pafuri Picnic spot "If you think this is bad wait till you see the floodplains towards Lanner Gorge...."Areas like Letaba River which was also flooded like the Sabie river also have all but fully recovered in the 6 years since the floods but Pafuri is different, far different to the plains where the Umfolosi hits the sea and while the big trees are thriving without too many new ones (Elephant) the fine balance of the undergrowth is struggling along with Crested Guinea Fowl Habitat and Wattle Eye Habitat etc etc

I have been to Pufuri when there was absolutely nothing from ground level [dustbowl] to the flat underneath of the acacias at antelope height [standing on their back legs]. I do realize the sensitivity of the region but to tell you the truth Boulders, hundreds of years seems a bit extreme to me. No reflection on you since you are only going on what the rangers have told you and since I have not seen the damage myself, I'm in no position to comment.

I have been reading on the forum about the fever tree forest further down the floodplain and have seen the pics. Really upsets me. When I first saw Peter Johnson's shot of the forest back in '85 the 'forest' was so dense with trees so that you virtually could not see through them.

The large sycamore forest that was the old picnic spot was decimated by drought [The park never made any attempt to preserve this great piece of our heritage and that made me mad], despite having several reserves within Kruger which protect endangered species or specimens of note. I would have loved to visit this forest but now it is gone forever.

Getting back to Lanner Gorge, I cannot afford the cost but I am planing on a Pafuri excursion in November 2007 or February 2008. So I will get back to you, in the mean time what can we do that can make a difference? How has it affected the bird life? As a avid birder this is of real interest to me.

Latest Lifers: Brown-Backed Honeybird; Violet-Eared Waxbill; Green-Winged Pytilia; and heard often but never seen - Yellow-Fronted Tinkerbird (±2m away in the open)

Thanks for your input on Pafuri. The old picnic spot was on the left side of the Bridge not so where there was later a research Scientists caravan?? That's all gone now it seems and the Pafuri Rangers house to the north of the river at that point has been handed to the concession beneficiary folk and the Ranger has moved into Harold Mockford's House at the old WNLA post where the Pafuri Border Post is. Sadly and gladly there are NO monkeys at the Pafuri Picnic spot at the moment when there were plenty over the Sept Hols when i was there last 4 months ago. Frank smiled when I asked him ...which means they had to be destroyed because of people induced overpopulation. Also keep a close look at Insect/Leaf Gleaners like the robins and Wattle eyes, Eremomelas etc and note any population swings. Without the monkeys already the wattle eyes are back and could very well breed.

The Nyalaland Trail costs are not excessive so you should investigate that and then hope for a good guide who will agree to take your group to Lanner Gorge.

Do the Nyalaland wilderness trail and ask the guides if you could visit the gorge. You might be lucky enough that they say yes. They do two different walks, one just exploring the beginning of the gorge and another deep into it with plenty climbing and walking involved. We did the first and walked into a pride of lions on the riverbank and got to see Pel's Fishing Owl and a pair of Verreauxs' Eagles. I need to go back there.

or

You can stay in the Makuleke concession at Pafuri Camp . They do drives/walks there if I'm not mistaken and have the 'better' side of it at as well I think.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.Albert Einstein

As Johann mentioned there are only a limited number of ways to get to Lanner Gorge. If you go on the Nyalaland Trail you might get to see the gorge, but if I'm not mistaken your view will be from the Southern bank of the Luvuvhu river. If you want to see the gorge from the Northern side of the Luvuvhu river then you'll have to book a stay in one of the commercial lodges in the Makuleke Contract park. As far as I know those lodges are Pafuri Camp and The Outpost. A last option is to book a training course in the Makuleke through EcoTraining.

Last edited by madach on Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.